A sleek black limo idles in the center of the parking lot, the gleaming black stark against the backdrop of cracked concrete and cigarette-littered gravel. It’s not for me, I tell myself. It can’t be.

It’s probably one of Chastity’s customers.
At eight o’clock in the morning. In the cheapest motel in Tanglewood.
The driver steps out and nods to me in that deferent, discreet way that drivers have. My stomach sinks. He opens the back door and stands beside it, a silent invitation. A tacit command from the man inside.
My feet move me across the pavement, breath trapped. It’s that moment when you’ve slammed your finger in a door, before the pain has registered, when your mind is all too aware of what comes next.
The shadowed interior hides his face, but I know who it is before he speaks.
“Good morning,” comes the low voice of the man who made me come on his desk. The door shuts behind me, enclosing me in the warm darkness.
“What are you doing here?”
A shuffle of papers. The scratch of a pen. As the darkness solidifies, I see him reclined in the back of the limo, focused on a stack of papers in front of him. Working, like I’m a distraction. “I’m your ride.”
He doesn’t even look up. “Excuse me?”
“To Landon Moore’s office. That is where you’re going, I assume.”
My eyes narrow. “How do you know that?”
Finally he looks up, his golden gaze searing me. “Because you’ll do anything to get your house back. It’s the only place you feel safe, isn’t it? The only place you felt loved?”
My stomach clenches. “How did you know where to find me?”
“I don’t think you need me to answer that.”
Because he knows everything that happens in the city. He could have had me followed after I left his office yesterday, but odds are he knew where I was before. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’d rather walk on nails than ride with you.”
I pull the latch to discover that the door is locked. From the inside.
My gaze flies to him. “You’re kidnapping me?”
“Unfortunately,” he says with fake sympathy. “You’ll have to explain to the cops how I abducted you and transported you in comfort to your previously planned destination.”
The car glides forward, as if connected to his very will.
Asshole.
I glare at him, settling into the warm leather. Are these seats heated? Of course they are. I have to admit this is way more comfortable than the city bus, but everything has a cost. And when it comes to Gabriel Miller, the cost is always too high. “Why are you doing this?”
“Does it matter?” he asks, his voice faintly mocking. “As a gentleman your comfort is my highest priority. It’s enough to be of service to you.”
“You’re not a gentleman.”
“Probably right. In that case I’m coming with you to see sweet old Uncle Landon give you the horrible news, to see your face fall as he assures you there’s nothing you can do.”
My throat constricts. “Can’t you find someone else to torture?”
“No one nearly as pretty. Besides, my presence has some advantages.”
“My very own supply of fire and brimstone?”
“People are more inclined to tell the truth when I’m in the room. My reputation for dealing with liars and cheats is somewhat brutal.” He leans forward, his eyes reflecting sunlight. “All of it true, I’m afraid.”
I’m living proof of that, the fallout from my father’s decision to steal. “Be careful or I might think you’re actually being nice to me.”
A short laugh. “Not a chance. It will be my pleasure to see Landon Moore break. And even sweeter to watch you break, too. A show I can’t pass up.”

Author Bio:
Skye Warren is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance such as the Chicago Underground series. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. She makes her home in Texas with her loving family, two sweet dogs, and one evil cat.

“Tiffany’s?” Miranda asked. “You’re a little young for that aren’t you?
Though you are Bunny’s granddaughter.”

“Not like Grandma Bunny’s diamonds! The diamonds on the sidewalk. Look!”

Sure enough, the concrete in front of them sparkled. Four or five runs
of sidewalk shimmered with mica flecks, then it went to plain for a block or
two, then more that sparkled.

“I want to know what makes them different,” Miranda said to Scott,
pointing at the abrupt change from sparkle to non-sparkle on the sidewalk in
front of them.

“But knowing the difference would ruin it,” Scott said.

“You’d rather think it was magic?”

“I like the idea of magic. Don’t you?” he asked.

“I don’t take much stock in that,” Miranda said.

“Daddy, look!” Lynn said.

And there in front of them was a huge elephant balloon with a circus
ball balancing on his trunk. The ball wasn’t all the way inflated yet; it wobbled
a little and the sides of the elephant shuddered some as the helium pumped in.
But an elephant as tall as a house at Central Park was a sight to behold no
matter the size or amount of helium left to go.The crowd around them seemed to holding their breath in
anticipation as the ball slowly rose.

“See,” Miranda said, “to people watching on television that's magic. But
it’s not magic. It’s a year of planning and then people working all night on
the day before a family holiday to pull it off.”

“But it’s magic to her,” Scott said.

Lynn strained at the barricade, craning her neck to see down the street
and the rest of the balloons staged there.

“Sure, it’s magic to her. She’s a kid. Kids have to believe in magic.
When you really grow up, it’s different.”

Miranda
Shane lives a quiet life among books and letters as a professor in a small
upstate town. When the playing-by-the-rules poet throws out convention and
begins to use a Scrabble board instead of paper to write, she sets off a chain
of events that rattles her carefully planned world.

Her
awakening propels her to take risks and seize chances she previously let slip
by, including a game-changing offer from the man she let slip away. But when
the revelation of an affair with a graduate student threatens the new life
Miranda created, she is forced to decide between love or poetry.

Brandi Megan Granett is an
author, online English professor, and private writing mentor. She holds a PhD
in Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University, Wales, an MFA in Fiction from
Sarah Lawrence College, a Masters in Adult Education with an emphasis on
Distance Education from Penn State University, and a BA from the University of
Florida.

Granett is the author of My
Intended (William Morrow, 2000). Her short fiction has appeared in Pebble Lake
Review, Folio, Pleiades and other literary magazines, and is collected in the
volume Cars and Other Things That Get Around.

In addition, she writes an author
interview series for the Huffington Post, and is a member of the Tall Poppy
Writers, a community of writing professionals committed to growing
relationships, promoting the work of its members, and connecting authors with
each other and with readers.

When Granett is not writing or
teaching or mothering, she is honing her archery skills. She lives in New
Jersey with her husband, daughter and two dogs.

Friday, January 27, 2017

This is a standalone, historical/paranormal romance. Its mature themes – violence, religious war, and pagan rituals – might not be appropriate for audiences under 18.

When ancient gods ruled and Druids kept Faith alive, the Celts thrived as a democratic, matriarchal society. Then savage Roman soldiers swept across Europe, killing and enslaving. The Celts did not succumb without a fight. Their Old Ways survived centuries of ruthless domain until another menace loomed: a tortured god worshiped in cold stone buildings. The sacred shores of Avalon began to drift away, the mists threatened to hide the island from mortal eyes forever.

Against the bleak backdrop of war, the gorgeous Scottish Highlands stood tall, sheltering its inhabitants from greedy invaders. Yet the reach of the eagle banners was long and the highlanders turned to the Goddess for protection. However, the sacred groves felt silent and grim as Avalon faded away. Once sad, pealing bells began to sound strangely comforting while the high walls of monasteries offered an alluring barrier from violence. Caught in the middle of this centuries-old war, a young High Priestess might be Avalon’s last chance.Wise beyond her years and powerful like no other Priestess in her lifetime, Rowen had served the Goddess faithfully, forsaking her family and the company of her soulmate. When the Lady of the Lake asks for another sacrifice, it might be one too many for her scarred heart. How could she obey the Goddess without betraying Caddaric? Could she trust Eochaid, who embodied everything she despised and hated? Would she be able to fulfill her duties without losing her soul?

Caddaric had been Rowen’s companion in countless lives; but, now, they existed in different realms. Beautiful Rowen lived in the mortal world while sweet Caddaric remained in the sacred isle of Avalon, watching over her. Could he step aside to allow another man – a flesh and blood man – to become her protector?

Eochaid had sworn to protect the Old Ways. The rude warrior never quite understood his faith yet his loyal heart belonged to the Goddess. A gorgeous, fiery High Priestess was not in his plans. He would risk his life to protect Rowen; but, would the Goddess safeguard his heart? Could he defend the bewitching maiden from himself?

When stakes were so high that a simple mistake could cost their very world, a priestess, a Druid, and a warrior must learn to trust each other and the mysterious ways of the Goddess. Their success would save Avalon. Their failure would tear the island from the human realm forever, condemning it to oblivion.Failure was not an option.

Rowen
Although my heart is heavy and my thoughts are gloomy, I take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand. I search for the sacred oak, the oldest tree in the grove. Finding it, I lie on the ground, face down, in front of the revered tree. Earth’s energy radiates from the ground, traveling through my body and limbs, filling me with a potent magnetism, and making my skin tingle as I say my prayer.

“Forgive me, Great Mother. I have failed you yet again. I am your vessel on this realm and as such I should never doubt your ways. Nevertheless, when the time came for Caddaric to go back to Avalon, I despaired and fought against the inevitable, as I always do.
Please, give me strength to control my weak heart, wisdom to understand your signs, and courage to do your bidding.”
The wind picks up around me making the dry leaves and little twigs swirl. Faint whispers come in the breeze. A thousand gentle fingers move over my body caressing, soothing me.
“Oh, Mother, you are too kind and never abandon me. I promise to serve you faithfully and perform my duties accordingly from now on.”
The wind blows stronger, molding my clothes to my body, covering me in dry leaves. I feel faint and when I open my eyes, I’m not in the sacred grove any longer. I’m lying on a sunny field, there’s a gentle breeze blowing from the distant line of apple trees, bringing the sweet smell of their flowers in full bloom. Recognizing my beloved isle of Avalon, I get up and look around. I see the Lady of the Lake standing just a few feet away. I go to her and offer a curtsy. The Lady gently holds me by my shoulders, smiles serenely and holds my gaze. Not for the first time, I wonder if her eyes can read my soul.
“Rise, Rowen, my child. And do not cry. You should rejoice over your successes instead of mourning what you perceive as failures. Your apprentices look up to you and seek your guidance, because your advice is wise and respectful. The villagers worship the Great Mother according to the old traditions, because they follow your firm yet kind leadership. Despite being so young, my beautiful Rowen, you are wise and your people respect you.”
I am touched by her words. I never expected the Lady of the Lake herself would answer my prayer and come talk to me, comfort me.
“You are too kind, my lady. I am honored and, although I think I do not deserve your comfort, I am thankful.”
“I speak only the truth, Rowen, as all true servants of the Goddess shall do. Now, you will not like what I need to tell you. You have always been loyal to your vows and I count on that loyalty to see you through the task I need you to undertake.”
“You frighten me, my lady. What do you need from me? You know I would never deny you, or the Great Mother, anything.”

Author Bio:
International best-selling author Liz Gavin, has accomplished much in her short career. Her books have made to #1 and Top Five best-selling ranks in her home country Brazil and others as diverse as Japan, the UK and the US; both in English and Portuguese, collecting 5 and 4-star reviews. Nominated for a Summer Indie Book Award in 2016, and again in 2017, this RWA member constantly seeks new opportunities to improve her craft.

This thirst for knowledge propelled Liz to leave the comforts of family and friends in Brazil and move to California to pursue a Master’s degree in late 2015. She lives in sunny SoCal, where she’s researching the writing process, for her thesis, in hopes to figure out why she creates in English instead of her native Portuguese.

Liz Gavin writes in contemporary, paranormal, and historical genres. In her sexy stories, one finds smart, independent women, who don’t need rescuing by knights in shining armor, but indulge in steamy action with swoony Alpha males with big hearts. She also writes about women discovering their sexuality and finding happiness in unconventional setups.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Cathy Whitley’s two best
friends, Sara and Heather, may have found the men of their dreams… and that’s
all well and good for them. But that’s not going to happen to Cathy. She
allowed love to catch her off-guard once and it drained her dry, emotionally
and financially. She’ll never let it happen again. Ever.

Brad Henderson has been chasing Cathy for years. He’s settled for their
on-again-off-again, “friends with bennies” relationship for far longer than he
expected. Attempting to swim through the rip currents surrounding her heart has
left him swimming in circles.

Then Brad inherits a business worth millions from billionaire Harold
Hopewell.Hopewell had traveled the world and was touched by the stories of the
people he met. In death, Hopewell is giving back, leaving an unusual will
filled with life-altering bequests. Brad can’t believe his stroke of luck. Now
Cathy will surely see him in a new light. Right?

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Can
you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?Someone is
distributing drugs out of the nightclub Acoustics, and undercover DEA operative
Reynolds Navarro has come to Bristol, Tennessee to find out who.His prime suspect?The beautiful and deceitful dulcimer
player Kylie Barstow Richards, whose drug-dealing husband was gunned down and
who now has illicit funds feeding into an offshore account in her name.In order to complete his investigation,
Ren must gain her trust and access to her home.What better way than with a kiss?

Kylie
hates liars.She has been lied to
all of her life, and Ren Campbell seems too good to be true.Handsome, sexy and talented, the
bluegrass guitar player is everything she’d wished of her first husband.And suddenly he’s her protector,
too.But as danger encroaches as
the morning mists of the Smoky Mountains, Kylie must learn whom she can
trust-and whom she can love.

‘Mist’
is the first book in the Smoky Blue series set in the bluegrass music world of
Appalachia.

Did you try the traditional route to
publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?
I have a traditional publisher.Although Boroughs Publishing sells mostly ebooks, the submission,
revision, editing, etc. is the same as the process I went through thirty years
ago with Candlelight Ecstasy.

How long before you got your offer of
representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?
Which time?I’ve actually had two
writing careers.Back in the
1980’s, Candlelight rejected my first attempt but bought the second, and
seventeen more after that.This
time, Boroughs bought my first attempt at resurrecting my career.

What
factors influenced your decision to go with a particular agent or publisher?

They like my work and I love working with them.

Are you currently under a traditional
publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will
self-publish? Are you doing both?
I prefer the traditional route and am under a traditional contract.I get expert editing provided and
someone else takes care of the covers, copyright, etc.

Do
you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?
I don’t belong to a critique group as such, but I have two beta readers who are
worth their weight in gold.

What is your writing process? Do you
listen to music or do you like silence?
I write mostly between one and seven in the afternoon.My brain is mush in the morning and
turns back into mush by seven or eight in the evening.I work in a quiet bedroom in total
silence looking out the window at beautiful oak trees.I also work very productively at our
lake house looking out at the water.

Do you outline your story or just go
where your muse takes you?
I write a detailed chapter by chapter plot before I ever sit down to write the
book.

Did you hire an editor to review your
manuscript before publishing?
This is provided by my publisher.

Do
you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book
and writing your next book?
YES.Let me think about that some
more.YES.

Besides
writing, do you have any other passions?
I play four instruments-piano, organ, dulcimer and ukulele-and belong to two
performing groups.

What’s next for you?I finish the Smoky Blue series, which
will have a minimum of six books, maybe more.

BLURB:

The widow of a lying drug dealer, dulcimer-player Kylie Barstow Richards
finds herself struggling to see through the mist of the Smoky Mountains to the
truth-about her life, about the nightclub where she works, and about the
bluegrass-playing musician who has arrived to steal her heart.

Author
of twenty six romance novels, Emily Mims combined her writing career with a
career in public education until leaving the classroom to write full time.The mother of two sons and grandmother
of three, she and her husband Charles live in central Texas but frequently
visit grandchildren in eastern Tennessee and Georgia.She plays the piano, organ, dulcimer, and ukulele and
belongs to two performing bands.She says, “I love to write romances because I believe in them.Romance happened to me and it can
happen to any woman-if she’ll just let it.”

Monday, January 23, 2017

Local bookstores are
an invaluable fixture in any community. They are fantastic destinations for
meeting new people and learning new things, and you can do much more than
simply buying books there. Here are some ways you can take advantage of how
great your local bookstore really is.

Get to Know the Staff and Other Regulars

If you’re a regular
at your local bookstore, be sure to get to know the people who work there and
even the owner of the shop. They are well-read individuals who love to
recommend their favorite titles to each other and customers. So, don’t be shy
about asking them what they think about a certain series, book or author. Who
knows? You might even end up with a lifelong
friend!

The same goes for
chatting with other customers. While browsing the Sci-Fi section for the latest
titles from Joe Hart, why not strike up a conversation with someone who happens
to be flipping through a book that you’ve been dying to read from A.G. Riddle?
You already have something in common, so it’s a great way to meet new people
who have similar interests. Of course, remember to be aware of their body
language; some people don’t want to be bothered while they’re having a quiet
moment alone to browse books.

Attend Events, or Host Your Own!

Independent
bookstores are often a hive of activity, where locals host a wide range of
events. Talk to the staff and find out what’s on over the course of the next
month, and you’re sure to find something that will pique your interest. Book
launches, poetry readings and panel
discussions are just a few of the fascinating events that you can attend at
your local bookstore, and they present you with the opportunity to meet plenty
of new people with similar interests.

If the store doesn’t
normally host events, why not host your own? Independent bookstore owners are
always eager to attract new customers and you can help to bring them in by
holding your own unique affair. They can be great locations for cocktail
parties and album launches - depending on the artist’s noise level. Some people
even get married at bookstores!

Go on a Bookstore Date

Bookstores can
actually make for great date spots, especially if you’re a literature lover. Take
your date to your favorite local bookstore and spend a few hours exploring
before you head out for dinner.

There are all sorts
of fun activities that you and your date can take part in when you decide to
spend a few hours at the bookstore together. You can visit the Languages
section and have a conversation in new words that you’ve learned from the
translation dictionaries, or take a trip to the Reference section and quiz each
other based on facts from almanacs, encyclopedias or The Guinness Book of World
Records.

Then, of course, you
can recommend your favorite books to each other. Decide to read one of the
books over the course of the week, and spend your next having a book club
discussion over dinner or drinks. You can even cook a meal together on an
upcoming date, using a recipe that you’ve discovered from a cookbook during
your time together at the bookstore.

Sign Up for a Book Subscription

Book subscriptions
aren’t just available in online form as literary boxes. You can also find them
in your local bookstore. Some stores offer you a new book based on the
recommendations of their staff or regular customers, while others make sure to
put aside the latest copy of a new highly-anticipated title. This is a great
opportunity to discover new authors in an exciting way. You never know what you’re
going to get each month, and you can really step outside of the box in more
ways than one.

Join a Book Club, or Start Your Own.

Almost every
independent bookstore is home to at least a couple of book clubs. Find out from
staff when you can attend book club meetings, or ask them for the contact
details of the person who hosts them.

If none of the book
clubs that currently meet at your local bookstore are of interest to you, you
can even start your own that appeals to your personal Fantasy or Sci-Fi tastes.
Start by asking your friends, and then put out some flyers at the store to
attract other customers to join your club.

Check Out the Community BoardLocal bookstores certainly foster
a sense of community, and you’re sure to find an events board somewhere in the
shop. Every week or so, have a look at the board and see if there is anything
that you may want to attend. They present a great way to discover new
independent businesses and find out about interesting events. Bookstore patrons
are some of the most diverse people you’ll ever get to know, so you can
discover some intriguing new activities and venues by having a look at the community
board.

Spread the WordMore and more independent
bookstores are falling into the shadows of online shopping on Amazon and big name
stores like Barnes & Noble. So, if you want to see your local bookstore
thrive, then be sure to let people know about it!

If you know a friend
is looking for a particular title, suggest they purchase it from your favorite
shop. Recommend it as a spot for an event someone that you know may be hosting.
Make sure that the people around you know that they have a fantastic literary
resource and community hub right in the backyard.

Don’t forget that
your local bookstore is a wonderful place full of new opportunities. Whether they
help you discover new books or meet new people, it is important that you make
the most of all the valuable experiences at your disposal at your favorite
bookstore.

What’s your favorite
independent in your local area? What makes it so great? Leave us a comment and
let us know!

Author Bio: Latoya is a technology writer for Secure
Thoughts and regular culture writer for other websites. She has a
passion for reading Sci-Fi novels and while she enjoys the high-tech
convenience of a Kindle, she never passes up the opportunity to visit her local
bookstore.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Izzie Rinaldi has everything going for her. All she has to do is make it through her senior year of college, and then she’ll be off to law school, one step closer to assuming her position at the head of her family’s empire. After a chance encounter with the campus bad boy, Izzie can’t get him out of her head.

Luca Marchese, the smooth-talking son of the most notorious man in Philadelphia, is used to getting what he wants. He hasn’t forgotten the girl he knew as a child, and now that he has Izzie’s attention, Luca will stop at nothing to have her.

Luca’s defiance of the law turns Izzie on more than she cares to admit. She wants Luca to corrupt her in every way possible, despite his reputation as the king of one-night stands. Their attraction is undeniable, but their desire for one another isn’t enough for Izzie to overlook visits from federal agents and the potential ruin of her family.

Linked to Luca and a criminal underworld, Izzie discovers she’s more like him than she thought. But a future with Luca could mean swapping her diamond bracelets for a pair of handcuffs.

*Corrupt Me is a standalone novel that is the first book in the Philly Corruption series.

Most of the guys on campus, my brothers included, would give their right nut for one night with Izzie. I’d been waiting for a shot with her for years, and I wasn’t about to waste this opportunity.

Mark threw his hands out at his sides, as if saying, I don’t know. “You were a mess last time, Luca. When your families stopped talking to each other, I thought you were going to lose your shit. You were heartbroken over Izzie when we were kids.”
“That’s why I’m not letting her go this time.”
He ran a hand through his spiky auburn hair. “That girl is nothing but trouble. I’m just trying to look out for you. Do what you want, but we both know how this is going to end.”
I reached for my door at the end of the hallway and turned until I was facing Mark. “I’m taking a shower. Meet me downstairs later, if you wanna come.”
I thought I heard Mark sigh, and then his door closed.
Now that I’d made up my mind about Izzie, I couldn’t turn back. We’d met years ago, long before college, at a fundraiser our families attended, and even as a little girl, Izzie was gorgeous. She obviously forgot about it. Either that, or she preferred to believe we weren’t cut from the same designer fabric.
I had to see if she would give me a chance. What was I thinking? She’d yelled at me one time, and I was already stalking her. I did not stalk women, especially not to get laid.
But Izzie was so much more than that. She deserved better than my usual treatment.

Author Bio:
Jillian Quinn was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and currently lives in sunny Cape Coral, Florida where she still pretends it’s okay to drink hot chocolate and curl up on the couch with a good book, even when it’s ninety degrees outside. From an early age, writing and storytelling have been her passion. In her spare time, she loves creating fictional worlds and living inside the minds of her characters as well as reading and watching hockey.

Jillian is also a successful book blogger, dubbed by her followers as The Queen of Rants after making her blog, Rant and Rave About Books, a popular destination in the bookish community because of her honesty and passion for books.

Corrupt Me is her first novel with other young adult and new adult titles to follow.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

For fans of romance thriller suspense and family romance series, comes a new romantic action adventure!

One of five brothers and a sister, JT Luciano is a widowed environmental biologist with a touch of the Sight who is preparing for an apocalyptic event he knows is coming. Holed up at his military survival camp named the Haven, prepared for his family, JT is ready for whatever might come… except for one woman.

Elizabeth Johnson, virologist and Senator’s daughter, is carrying precious cells for a vaccine against the swiftly-evolving, deadly flu that’s sweeping the nation. Her plane crashes in JT’s potato field—and she must convince him to leave his safe haven and help her get to Washington, DC.

One by one, the structures of society implode in the face of the flu’s devastation as JT and Elizabeth travel a scorching road cross country. Danger brings them together to find one good, true thing in a changing world.

Help Pick The Cover Design for the first book in the new “Scorch Romantic Thriller Series” by bestselling authors Toby Neal and Emily Kimelman!

From Toby & Emily:
We are dying to hear your thoughts! We love both these covers but want to know what YOU think. Which one just screams “Romantic Thriller”?
To show our gratitude for sharing your opinion with us we are offering everyone who votes a free copy of the first book in this smoking hot new series, “Scorch Road.”
We can’t wait to see what you think!

—

Author Bio:
Kirkus Reviews calls Neal's writing, "persistently riveting. Masterly."
Award-winning, USA Today bestselling social worker turned author Toby Neal grew up on the island of Kaua`i in Hawaii. Neal is a mental health therapist, a career that has informed the depth and complexity of the characters in her stories. Neal's police procedurals, starring multicultural detective Lei Texeira, explore the crimes and issues of Hawaii, and are so popular that they've spawned a licensed fan fiction world on Amazon.
Neal focuses on mystery but also writes romance, YA, and memoir.
Receive one of her books, full-length, award-winning Torch Ginger, by signing up for her email list at http://tobyneal.net/

Emily Kimelman is the author of eight mysteries in her best selling Sydney Rye Series about a brave female protagonist and her giant dog, Blue. Emily also writes dystopian, paranormal romances under the name E.J. Kimelman. A traveler, mother and all around bad ass chick, Emily is always happy to hear from readers. Connect with her on Twitter @ejkimelman, Facebook, and at her website www.emilykimelman.com. Visit Emily’s website and sign up for her Readers’ Group to receive four FREE ebooks including the first book in her Sydney Rye Series, UNLEASHED. You’ll also get special offers, new release announcements and more.

Monday, January 16, 2017

Martin Luther King
Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. King, both a Baptist
minister and civil-rights activist, had a seismic impact on race relations in
the United States, beginning in the mid-1950s. Among many efforts, King headed
the SCLC. Through his activism, he played a pivotal role in ending the legal
segregation of African-American citizens in the South and other areas of the
nation, as well as the creation of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

King received the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors. King was assassinated in
April 1968, and continues to be remembered as one of the most lauded
African-American leaders in history, often referenced by his 1963 speech,
"I Have a Dream."

QUOTES:

"I've seen the promised land. I may
not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people,
will get to the promised land."

–
Martin Luther King Jr.

Full text of "I Have A Dream" Speech, August 28, 1963:

I am happy
to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest
demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score
years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the
Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light
of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of
withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of
captivity.

But one
hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not
free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by
the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years
later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast
ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still
languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in
his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense
we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of
our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every
American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be
guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.

It is
obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her
citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation,
America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked
"insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of
justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in
the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this
check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the
security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America
of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of
cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to
rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of
racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of
God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of
racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would
be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to
underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the
Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating
autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a
beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now
be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as
usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is
granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake
the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on
the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of
gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not
seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness
and hatred.

We must
forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We
must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again
and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with
soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community
must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white
brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that
their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably
bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we
walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will
you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy
with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways
and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's
basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be
satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York
believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we
will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness
like a mighty stream.

I am not
unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations.
Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas
where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and
staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of
creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is
redemptive.

Go back to
Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go
back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this
situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to
you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of
the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American
dream.

I have a
dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of
its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are
created equal."

I have a
dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and
the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of
brotherhood.

I have a
dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering
with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of
freedom and justice.

I have a
dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not
be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a
dream today.

I have a
dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently
dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed
into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join
hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and
brothers.

I have a
dream today.

I have a
dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall
be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will
be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh
shall see it together.

This is
our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith
we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With
this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation
into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to
work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together,
to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will
be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning,
"My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land
where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside,
let freedom ring."

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